Resilient wheel.



G. G. HINSDALE & C. W. JONES.

RESILIENT W HEEL. APPLICATION FILED JAN.10,191I.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

G. G. HINSDALE & C. W. JONES.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, I911.

PutentedS ept. 5, 1916.

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- vll l yielding mediums, such as springs, are in- GEORGE G. HINSDALE, OF SOIVIERVILIIIE, AND CI- IARLESW. J ONES, OF ARLINGTON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Application filed January 10, 1911.

This invention relates to improvements-in resilient wheels, and more especially inthat class of resilient wheels in which a series of troduced between an inner and an outer rim on the wheel arranged concentric to each other leaving an annular space between them to receive the yielding mediums.

The invention has for its objects to increase the lasting qualities of the, yielding mediums, thereby obviating the inconvenience of frequent repairs to the yielding mediums and to otherwise improve the construction of such wheels as well as the use fulness of the same, as will be fully described and ascertained by the complete description of the device herein contained.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts, substantially as hereinafter described andit is carried out substantially as illustrated on the accompanying drawings which form an essential part of this specification, and whereon like characters of reference refer to like parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

On the drawings: Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of a resilient wheel made in accordance with this invention showing the wheel in its normal condition or free from supporting a load. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged cross section'of the rims of the wheel on the line A-A shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents'a cross section ofattach the spokes to the inner rim of the wheel. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged cross section of the rims of the Wheel on the line B-B shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6 and 7,

represent respectively a side elevation of one of the yielding mediums or units in its normal condition; a sectional side elevation of the same extended; and a sectional side elevation of the same contracted, and showing said unit arranged to be made active under Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 601,892.

compression only. Fig. 8 represents a sectional side elevation of a resilient wheel show ng the several parts in their relative positions occupied when the wheel is, supporting aload. Fig. 9-represents an en-.

larged cross section of the rims of the wheel on the line (1-0, shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 represents an enlarged. cross section of the.

rims of the wheel on the line DD shown in Fig. 8. Figsrll, l2 and 13 represent respectively a side elevation of one of the yielding mediums or-units in its normal condition; a sectional side elevation of the same extended and a longitudinal sectionof the yielding unit contracted, and showing said unit arranged to be made active under tension only. 1

It .has been demonstrated by the experience of years, that a common helical spring, properly proportioned and worked within the safe limits of the elasticity of the metal from which the spring is made, will last almost indefinitely and consequently we have shown the elastic or yielding medium used in our yielding units as consisting of a helical spring or springs, but it will be understood that any of the common and well known substitutes for a helical spring may be used without departing from the essential part of our invention. It is also an established fact that even when a properly proportioned helical spring is used, itv will not last if'it is caused to become active or be under strain by compression and by tension both, audit is one of the most essential features of our invention to so construct the yielding medium that it will be caused to become active by compression whether the yielding unit is lengthened or shortened by the varied actions of the wheel, or by tension during such changes of the unit and not by compression andtension both in the same unit. By such a construction of the yielding units they are made much more durable than'if they were to become active both by compression and tension as they would soon crystallize and break.

The wheel isprovided with an inner rim 1, which is rigidly attached to the hub 2 I by means of the spokes 3 or by any other common and well known manner. The rim 1 is preferably made from metal and the spokes 3 from wood. The inner rim and the outer ends'of the spokes are preferably firmly attached to each other but in such a manner that they may be easily disconnected, by means of the series of metal sockets 4: firmly attached to the outer ends of the spokes and preferably extended so as to rest against the side of the rim 1. These sockets l enter recesses on the inner surface of the rim 1 which recesses are cast or otherwise made in one piece with the rim or by means of metal pieces 5 secured to the rim'by means of the rivets 6 or other equivalent means. By this construction of the connection between the spokes and the inner rim, we are able to assemble the hub and spokes with their attached sockets, thus forming a spider shaped construction which may be inserted into proper position within the rim 1 from the side thereof and after being inserted they may be firmly secured within the rim by means of the screws 7, substantially as shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, or by other equivalent means and when they are assembled and fastened they form a very strong and substantial construction which may be easily and quickly taken apart in order to insert a new spoke or other part which may be needed. Thewheel is also provided with an outer rim 8 of such an inner diameter as to leave'an annular space between the outer circumference of the inner rim and the inner circumference of the outer rim, substantially as shown and of such a size as to allow for the insertion of the yielding mediums or units used on the wheel. The outer surface of the outer rim may be of any desired structure now in common use and forms no essential part of our invention, but it has been shown on the drawings as consisting of a grooved metal tire 9 retaining a rubber or leather tread 10.

The inner and the outer rims are connected to each other by means of one or more series of yielding units, to be fully described hereinafter. The inner rim 1 is provided on its exterior or outer surface with a series of projecting brackets 11 to which one end of the yielding units is pivotally attached as at 12. Similar series of projecting brackets 13 are formed on the inner surface of the outer rim'8 to which latter series of brackets the opposite ends of the series of yielding units are pivotally attached as at 14. The series of brackets on each rim are preferably made opposite the spaces between the brackets on the other rim. The brackets 11 and 13 are preferably of such a length that the centers of all the pivotal connections of all the yielding units to said brackets will be substantially in a circle common to all of such centers, concentric with the circular surfaces of the outer and inner rims and is preferably midway between the'surfaces of the inner and the outerrims when the wheel is in its normal condition and free from load. By the described circular arrangement of the pivotal connections between the yielding units and their brackets we obtain a direct strain upon each unit and a perfectly cushioned. drive, as the strain is in the line of the axis of the springs used and each unit takes an equal or proportional part of the driving strain. Although this invention relates particularly to resilient wheels as used on motor driven vehicles, it will be readily seen that the application of the wheel may be extended to any use in which it is desirable to absorb shock between a driving source and a driven part, and such applications will be considered as coming within the scope of this invention.

As above stated, it is essential in order to increase the durability of a spring, that the spring or yielding unit should be so constructed that it should always become active under compression and not under tension, or under tension and not under compression both when the distance between the pivotal connections of said unit to the outer rim and to the inner rim is increased or diminished. On the drawings we have shown, in several views, the yielding unit constructed and arranged so as to be made active under compression only, while in other views we have shown the yielding unit so' constructed and arranged that it will always be made active under tension only. 7'

The construction of the yielding unit in which the spring or other yielding medium is made active only by the compression of the spring, is shown more clearly by reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7. In this construction the yielding unit consists of an arm 15 pivotally mounted upon the fulcrum 12 of the bracket 11, a second arm 16 pivotally mounted upon the fulcrum 14 of the bracket 13. The yielding medium (shown on the drawings as consisting of the helical spring 17) is provided at each end with the plates '18 and19 one at each end of the spring,

which plates are mounted upon the respective arms 15 and 16. These plates are each provided with the respective projections 20 and 21 which project into the interior of the spring toward each other and are so shaped as to slide longitudinally in relation to each other during the action of the spring. The projections 20 and 21 are provided with the respective side projections 22 and 23 which enter and move within the slots at and 25 in the arms 15 and 16 which are at the opposite ends of the spring and in order to limit the longitudinal movements of the arms in relation to the end plates on the spring. The action of this compression unit is such that when thepivotal connections 12 and 14 of the arms 15 and 16 approach each other during the action of the wheel shoulders on the arms engage the outside of the plates lS and 19 and cause the compression of the spring or other'yielding medium as shown inFig. 7 and when the said connections are moved apart the side projections- The construction of the tension unit in which the 'spring'or other yielding medium is made active only by the tension on the spring, is shown in detail and clearly 1llustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. In this construction the yielding unit consists of arms 26 and 27, similar to the arms 15 and 16, pivotally connected to the respective brackets 11 and 13 and moving longitudinally in relation to each other during the action of the wheel. The arm 26 is forked so as to receive the arm 27 and allow for this longitudinal movement. These arms are surrounded by the spring 28 or other yielding medium and they are provided with the respective slotted perforations 29 and 30 to receive the pins or bolts 31 and 32 by which the yielding medium is coupled to the arms. These bolts are rigidly attached to the ends of the yielding medium. The action of this tension unitis such that'when the pivotal connections 12 and 114 of'the arms 26 and 27 to the brackets 11 and 13 approach each other during the action of the wheel, the

ends of the arms, which normally rest against the bolts attached to the opposite ends of'the yielding medium, will cause the spring 28 to expand inlength and thus cause a tension on said spring opposing the further movement of the arms in that direction substantially'as shown in Fig. 13. When said connections are moved apart, the endsof the slots in the arms, being normally in engagement with the bolts attached to the ends of the spring nearest to said connection, will cause an expansion of the length of the spring and tension-thereon acting against the further movement of the arms in that direction. Thus the movements of the connections in either direction will have the same efiect upon the yielding medium or spring and cause a tension thereon. 1

From the above descriptions of the compression and the tension units it will be seen that both consist of two arms pivotally attached to the two rims, preferably by means of brackets thereon, which arms are movable longitudinally in relation to each other and that each of said arms engages or acts upon both ends of a yielding medium used in said units, dependent upon the direction in which the pivotal connections of the arms to the rims are moved during the action of the wheel, and that in both cases the effect upon the yielding medium is the same either to produce compression or tension thereon. Same wheel may have compression and tension units. 7

. The resiliency of the wheel not only cushions the jarring of a vehicle on which the wheel is used, due tounevenness in the surface on which the wheel is moving or from othercauses, but also cushions the shock occasioned by the starting and the stopping of automatically propelled vehicles thus pre venting the sudden jarring or shaking of the vehicles.

In order to prevent the admission of dirt, dust, and mud to the space between the rims; and also to add to the appearance and strength of the wheel we prefer to provide the wheel with housing plates 33 one on each side of the wheel, which plates are made ring-shaped and secured to the inner rim,.s ubstantially as shown. 7

Having thus fully described the nature, construction and the operation'of our invention we wish to secure by Letters Patent and to claim: I

1. An outer rim, an inner rim of smaller diameter leaving an annular chamber between said parts, a continuous series of yielding units within said chamber, adjacent ends of consecutive units pivotally connectedto each other and alternately attached by said pivotal connections to the inner surface of the outer rim and to the outer surface of the inner rim, each yielding unit consisting of a yielding medium acted upon at both ends by each of, a plurality ofv oppositely disposed sliding members, whereby any eccentric displacement of the rims with reference to each other will cause all the yielding mediums of the series to be made active at the same time and in the same way independent of whetherthe distancesbetween said pivotal connections are increased or diminished.

.2. In a resilient wheel, the combination with an inner rigid wheel structure and an outer rim of larger inner diameter than the periphery of the inner wheel, of an intermediate yielding suspension system consisting of a continuouspseries of interlocking; yielding units pivotally connected to each other at their ends and alternately attached by said pivotal connections to the periphery of the inner wheel and to the inner surface of the outer rim, each yielding unit consisting of a yielding medium mounted upon oppositely disposed sliding arms, bearing plates having projections thereon at each end of, said yielding medium, each of said arms engaging at one end with the outside of one bearing plate and at the opposite end with the projection on the other bearing plate, whereby all the yielding mediums of the system are made active one way only independent of the direction in which the sliding arms are moved. I

3. An outer rim, an inner concentric rim of lesser diameter than the inner diameter of said outer rim, leaving an annular chamber between said parts, a series of brackets alternately rigidly attachedto the inner surface of the outer rim and outer surface of the inner rim, a continuous system of arms and plates with alternate ends of consecutive arms pivotally connected to each other and attached to one of said brackets by their pivotal connection, said plates slidable upon adjacent arms between said brackets and engaged by each of said adjacent arms, and aseries of yielding mediums interlocked by said arms and plates engaged at each end by one of said plates, whereby all the yielding mediums of the system are made active in compression only independent of the direction in which the arms are moved.

4. An outer rim, an inner rim, and a series of yielding units, each unit connected at one end to the outer rim and at the opposite end to the inner rim, andeach unit consisting of two similar sliding members extending in opposite directions and partly rotated at right angles to the direction of their sliding movements, two bearing members mounted thereon each having similar projections afliXed thereto extending in opposite directions and partly rotated relative to each other, and a yielding medium on the sliding members between the bearing members thereon, each sliding member engaging at one end with projections on one bearing member and at the opposite end with the outside of the other bearing member.

5. An outer rim, an inner rim, and a series of yielding units,each unit connected at one end to the outer rim and at the opposite end to the inner rim, and each unit consisting of two arms free to slide longitudinally in relation to each other, shoulders on said arms and longitudinal slotted perforations in said arms, a yielding medium on said arms, a plate at each end of said yielding medium, engaged by the shoulders on said arms when the arms are moved in one direction, and projections on said plates entering and moving longitudinally within the slotted perforations in said arms, whereby the yielding medium is compressed independent of the direction in which the arms are moved.

6. Two similar oppositely disposed arms slidable longitudinally relative to each other and partly rotated at right angles to the direction of their sliding movement, two similar oppositely disposed bearing members slidably mounted on said arms and partly rotated relative to each other, each of said arms engaging both of said bearing members from opposite directions, and a yielding medium on said arms between said bearing members thereon, whereby the yielding medium is always made active in compression only independent of the direction in which the arms are moved.

7. Two similar oppositely disposed arms slidable longitudinally relative to each other and partly rotated at right angles to the direction of their sliding movements, shoulders at one end of said sliding arms and slotted perforations at the opposite end of said sliding arms, two similar bearing plates each engaged by a shoulder on the sliding arms when said sliding arms are moved in one direction, projections on the bearing plates partly rotated at right angles to the direction of the movements of the sliding arms, side lugs on said projections entering and movable within the perforations in the sliding arms coupling the bearing plates tothe sliding arms when said arms are moved in the opposite direction, and a yielding medium on said arms between the bearing plates, whereby the yielding medium is made active in compression only, independent of the direction in which the arms are moved.

. In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE G. HINSDALE. CHARLES W. JONES.

Witnesses to George G. Hinsdale:

ALBERT E. HENNIG,

- CHARLES H. HARMoN.

Witnesses to Charles W. Jones:

G. U. BEAN, C. FRED THOMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents,

it Washington, D. G. 

